Hydrogen sulphide produced by bacterial action in offshore oil and gas wells has been known to cause brittle failure of some high strength stainless steels. Four grades of high strength steels have been
investigated with respect to their suitability for use in such "sour" environments. The alloys studied were a martensitic stainless steel ER410, a controlled transformation stainless steel FV520B, and two
grades of super duplex stainless steels ER329 and Zeron 100M. Plain wires were tested in tension, and under constant strain, while exposed to the "sour" environment, and in controlled tests carried out in salt
solution alone. The martensitic and controlled transformation steels failed by brittle crack propagation in all environments containing hydrogen sulphide. ER329 failed via brittle fracture at elevated temperatures in constant strain tests and at low strain rates in all conditions. Zeron 100M did not undergo brittle fracture in any of the test environments used in this study. Furthermore, with this steel, no pitting or general corrosion was observed after extended exposure (672 hr) to NACE solution.
Susceptibility to SCC was broadly related to strength, but can be directly correlated with the lowest Cr, Mo and Ni content of the alloy and the observed general corrosion. Brittle fracture was independent of
the partial pressure of H2S in solution and it was most severe at the slowest strain rate and at the highest environment temperature.